Related Articles

As you hunker down underground to explore the dramatic limestone caves of Florida Caverns State Park, it may seem as though you’re a million miles away from civilization. In actuality, the surrounding area is home to a host of diverse attractions, many less than 30 minutes from the caverns. While an array of activities in the Florida Panhandle region take place in the great outdoors, you may also want to visit landmarks geared toward the performing arts.

State Parks

Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna is home to dry underground caves with towering and jagged limestone formations. Embark on a 35- to 40-minute tour through the caverns, a journey that requires moderately strenuous activity. Start your trip with a stop at the visitors center, complete with a short audiovisual program explaining the history behind the caves.

Take in the sights of Florida’s tallest waterfall at Falling Waters State Park in Chipley, 30 minutes west of the caverns. The unique waterfall measures 100 feet tall, although more than 70 feet of the lower tier disappears into a deep 20-foot-wide pit. An overhanging viewing platform gives you a glimpse of the entire waterfall. You can also enjoy a leisurely day lounging at the white-sand beaches of the park’s 2-acre lake, or take a stroll through the butterfly garden.

Sports and Recreation

Test your skills at Marianna’s Indian Springs Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course 20 minutes southeast of the park. The course is open to the public, but membership is available for Jackson County residents and those living within a 25-mile radius of the course. Membership grants tee time preferences and no greens fees. Kids 18 and younger can sign up for membership as well. You can also explore the natural settings right outside Florida Caverns State Park, including the Chipola River. Make your way down the waterway by renting a kayak or two-person canoe via Bear Paw Adventures. Inner tubes are available for rent as well, but can only be used on the nearby creek. Taking advantage of Florida’s warm temperatures, the company rents water-sports supplies year-round.

Festivals

Established in 1956, the historic Panhandle Watermelon Festival in Chipley serves up more than just big slices of the juicy fruit. Family-friendly events take place throughout the city, including country music concerts, a beauty contest, a parade, arts-and-crafts booths, and children’s play zones with inflatable slides and bounce houses. The two-day event is held annually in late June and is free to the public.

The city of Wausau has an 8-foot-tall possum monument in the middle of town, so it should come as no surprise that it also hosts the annual Wausau Possum Festival and Funday. The early August event kicks off with a possum parade, and includes a beauty pageant, sack races, live music and vendors peddling possum-themed merchandise, such as clothing, bumper stickers and stuffed animals. If you’re a bit more adventurous, you can even try a plate of cooked possum. The town is 30 minutes southwest of the caverns.

Typical Weather

Tallahassee, Florida in

--°FHigh

--°FLow

--%

Chance of Rain

--%

Cloud Cover

The temperature in Tallahassee, Florida in September tends to be very predictable, so you can generally count on the forecast and travel light.

The temperature in Tallahassee, Florida in September is somewhat unpredictable, so be on the safe side and prepare for a variety of conditions.

The temperature in Tallahassee, Florida in September is highly unpredictable, so use the forecast as a guide, but be ready for anything!

The Arts

Take a break from north Florida’s rugged lifestyle with a trip to Chipola College, five minutes from Florida Caverns State Park. The school’s Chipola Center for the Arts hosts a series of programs that are open to the public, including plays, musicals and special theatrical productions for kids. Concerts include jazz, folk, country and bluegrass acts, as well as the “Spring Into Summer Concert” series, which showcases local chamber music ensembles.

Enjoy an evening of theater at the Spanish Trail Playhouse in Chipley. The community theater mounts one show each year in the spring, summer and fall. Famed Broadway plays and musicals performed in the past include “All My Sons,” “Annie,” “Steel Magnolias” and “Arsenic and Old Lace.” All shows are held in the Chipley High School Auditorium.

About the Author

A travel writer since 2002, Leah Rendon has written countless articles for online pop-culture magazines and various travel-related websites, including Eurobooking and World66. Gosford also has experience in copywriting, having developed a series of articles related to network marketing. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in theater arts.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.